Corset



A. M. BENJAMIN CORSET Filed Oct. 21, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l A. M. BENJAMIN CORSET Filed Oct. 21, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 3c, 1924.

* aerate AMBER MA Y BENJAMIN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

CORSET. l

, Application filed October 21, 1921. Serial No. 509,240.

To all wko mz't may concern:

Be it known that I, AMBER MAY BEN- JAMIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Corsets, of which the following is aspecification. Y

An object of this invention is to relieve feminine wearers of corsets frombackache induced by wearing corsets. I have discovered that it is possible to so construct a corset that it will atone and the same time serve to confine and reduce the flesh over the shoulder blades and support the pelvic organs without applying pressure to the small of the back and that in order .to effect this it is necessary that the corset shall have a practically straight one-piece closed back extending from the shoulder to below the coccyx and provided with stays conformed to and supporting the sacro-iliac region and having the front of the corset provided with easily flexed stays, the lower front stayed portion of the corset I being free to conform to the abdomen avoid the distortion of the corset which avoiding downward pressure on the pelvic organs. The side stocking'supporters being attached to the lower ends of the sides of the corset and the front stocking supporters being attached to brassiere extensions and being free from any attachment that would cause a downward pull upon the abdominal supporting portion of the corset. This corset is of the princess type in that it is of the practically straight fitted onepiece back extending from the shoulder to below the coccyx.

By making the corset closed in the back in combination with the other features I would occur if the laced back type of corset were used. That is to say, with laced back corsets the practically straight form of the back will be eliminated by shifting of the 7 thus causing a.

lacing under the pressure, forwardly curved form of the back of the vcorset and a consequent curvature of the spine. The tendency being to drawing the lacing together .at the small of the back by reason of the spreading apart of the two pieces of theback over the hips and responsive to forward pressure of any stocking supporters or other attachments that would apply a forward pull likely to efiect such spreading at the hips and drawing together at the small of the back.

This invention consists of a combination of corsets and brassiere combining as it 'does all the advantages of the, two garments in one, and is designed more particularly to meetthe requirements of stout women.

An object is to provide a garment which will maintain symmetrical lines in the figure,

at the same time affording the greatest possible ease to the wearer.

An object is to provide a corset which will support instead of compress the organs of the pelvic region and which will naturally tend to throw the chest forward and upward and place the body in the most up right and hygienic position. V a

An advantage is secured by providing for extra length and by affording an improved conformation to the back of the' wearer which allows the garment to cling to the forminstead of bulging out at the bottom, as with former corsets, when the wearer is seated, and also eliminating the liability of wearing the dress by contact with the ends of thesteels. An objectis to produce a neatappearance at the shoulders and hips by confining any surplus flesh, and preventing protrusion of rolls of flesh above and below the edge of the corset.

Another advantage is the placing of elastic material where it is most needed on the shoulders and on the lower front of the corset, insuring perfect ease of movement.

Another novelty and advantage is pro vided in a novel construction of the at- :tached hose supporters which obtain their leverage from the shoulders and are constructeoLto eliminate unequal strain at various positions of the wearer...

An object is to avoid liability of tearing the hose supported by the corset.

An object is to duction of adipose tissue may be effected by applying a. gentle and not uncomfortable pressure upon the parts where such tissue has accumulated and is likely to accumulate. I havediscovered that a cause of accumulation of adipose tissues on the'sides, hips, and

thighs is from impeded circulation at certain places and through-undue pressure onv the circulatory organs.

provide means whereby re- An object of this invention is to construct this corset differs with respect to this in that the support of the pelvic organs is borne by that portion of the corset which rests upon the sacro-iliac and not upon the lumbar region. To this end the back stays are curved to conform to the lines of the body and extend below and forwardly underneath the coccyx.

A further object of this construction is to hold the fleshy part of the thigh with a gentle compression which will reduce the fatty tissue without discomfort.

' A further advantage of this construction is that the support of the back while the wearer is sitting, is made more positive by bending the lower part of the stays forward under the coccyx whereby a yielding force is.

exercised to prevent lopping forward while sitting, and at the same time, the body rest ing upon the skirt of the corset thus extending underneath, holds the corset down and prevents hiking or riding of the corset upon the body, and supports the body against any tendency to lean back out of poise.

An object is to make provision whereby the advantages of a low corset may be se-;

cured without subjecting the mammae to pressure of the ends of the stays; also to support and protect the bust without impeding the circulation.

An object is to avoid the use of heavy and stiff clasps which are likely to press too severely upon the navel and to thereby injuriously affect the internal organs; and with this obj ect in view I provide light flexible stays at the front edges of the corset and connect the same by a lace drawn over hooks; said lace being fixed at its middle to the bottom of one of said light stays and adapted to be laced back and forth from stay to stay, from bottom to top, thus gently lifting the pelvic organs as the lacing is effected, and causing the corset to conform to the body.

An object is to cause the wearer to adjust the corset to the form each time the corset is put on. By this means the wearer is enabled to improve the lines of her figure.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawings, the .subjoined detail description and the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 is a front view of a corset con: structed in accordance with this invention and applied to a human form, some of the lines of which are shown.

Fig. 2 is a back view of said corset as applied in Fig. 1. a

Fig. 3. is a fragmental front view show; ing the auxiliary flies. V

Fig. 4 is a fragmental perspective, showing the fixed fly lace and fastening.

Fig. 5 is a front view showing the brassiere unhooked and thrown back and the flies unlaced and opened out. 1

Fig. 6 is a section on line m-w Figs. 1, 2

and 3, showing parts in sitting posture, by

broken lines.

. Fig. 7 is a perspective detail of the corset lace. v

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmental perspective view in section on line a Fig. 2 to show the arrangement of the back sta s.

The garment is composed o the corset body a, the brassiere b, b and the flies 0, a. The body of the corset is composed of front sections 1, 2, lateral sections 3, 4, and back central section 5, there being two of each of said sections excepting the back section.

liked The back section 5 is adapted to extend from above the shoulder blade level6 to below the coccyx of the wearer as at 21and itslength below the coccyx may be greater or less depending upon the wishes of the wearer; but in all instances the back section extends to below the coccyx, and the corset body a is of 'standing and affording means to take up the fullness in the shoulder straps when sitting. The brassiere attachments b are attached to the corsets on underarm seam 9 between sections 8 and 4st :1. point directly under the arm-scye 10 and extend from the arm-scye to the waist-line 11; the brassiere fronts I), b are shaped to conform to the bust of the wearer and are connected at the lower front corners 12 to the flexible brassiere straps 13 which extend to the level of the bottom of the corset skirt 14 and are connected to the front elastic stocking supporter loops 15, the inner ends of which are connected tothe lower front corners 16 of the flies c, 0'. The stockloops 15. and the side stocking supporter elastic loops 18 are connected to the corset skirt.

.- mamas connected to the skirt of the corset at the seams 19 and 9; that is to say, at the seams between the sections 2 and 3, and 3 and 4 on the opposite sides of the corset.

The corset back is provided with back poise stays 21 symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the back poise line which is practically coincident with line 00, in Fig. 2. I The back poise stays 21 terminate at the lower ends below the coccyx, and at the upper ends over and above the fatty tissue of the shoulders; and in practice the lower ends of the stays are conformed to the curvature of the body below the coc'cyx by shaping them over the fingers at the time of fitting until the desired form of stays is established. Said stays are the usual steel stays excepting that they are of length heretofore not known in the corset art, being distinctive from former stays in that they extend under the coocyx, which enables the wearer to sit on the .lower ends of the back stays. This avoids hiking or riding up of the corset and showing theforms of the stays; and also avoids wearing the clothes by the ends of the stays.

- The back poise stays 21 are shown as formed in a group of four stays; there being two of said stays on each side of said back poiseline. Back shoulder stays 22 are placed -at the front edges at either side of'the back poise stays 21 on corset sections 4 approximately mid-way between the stays 21 and the arm-scye side scams 9. k

Stays 22 extend somewhat above the level of the top line of the stays 21 and terminate at the swell of the hips considerably above the level of the lower ends of the back poise stays. The arm-scye stays 23 are shorter than the back shoulder stays 33, terminating just below the arm-scye 10 and practically at the swell of the hips, so that there will be no bowing or bending out of said stays 22 when the wearer is sitting; and the corset will be convenient and comfortable during all positions.

The front stays 24, 25, 26 extend below the waist-line and terminate at, or just above the abdominal flexure; that is, at a point which will allow the body to bend forward without tending to force the corset up. These stays and the front edge stays 27 are similar in length to those found in ordinary corsets.

The stays 27 are at the front opening of the corset. All of the stays from 21 to 27 inclusive, are preferably arranged in pairs as at d, e, in Fig. 8 and are light and flexible; thus assuring ease to the wearer. The front closure to the corset is referably effected by means of a cord 28 aced back and forth over small hooks 29 placed of the corset sections 1 and 2; said cord 28 beingpermanently secured at its middleby one of the lowermost books 29 bent to tightly clasp the same, as shown in Fig. 7.

A small pad 30 is placed where it will protect the wearer from contact with the lower ends of front stays 27.

The front sections 1, 2, of the corset are cut to extend over and below the pubic bone so as to hold the internal organs up without binding the bladder or gouging the person while sitting. They extend only as low as the crotch, and the flexible auxiliary flap sections 0 are secured at seams 19 to the front edges of the skirt 14,, at the hip portions of the corset body; and when closed, serve to cover the lower edges of front sections 1, 2 and to hold the skirt 14 snugly about the hips of the wearer.

The closure of the flaps is similar to that the cord 31 of the flaps is of elastic, and is secured to one of the top hooks 32 which are placed on either side of the front edge of the flaps 0, o; Added resiliency is aflorded the flaps 0 by the insertion of inverted V- shaped pieces of elastic material 33, insuring free movement of the wearer; and at the same time keeping the skirt 14 of the corset well in place.

'The elastic cord 31 requires no tying, the ends thereof being simply provided with v knots 34, or the like, which contact with the lower hooks 32'. i e

The brassiere fronts are also provided with small hooks and eyes 35, 36 which are placed to be invisible when the garment is ence to Fig. 1 that all fastenings are concealed when the garment is adjusted on the wearer, and a smooth exterior is presented to contact with the added garment. i The front corset portions 1 and 2, from the opening 37 to the seam 19, extend down only as far as the crotch while the remaining portions 3, 4 and 5 extend well down over the hips and flies 0, c are secured to the seams 19 and are laced together'at 38 with an elastic cord similar to the fastening at 28, thus serving to snugly secure the hip portions 39. These flaps 0, c are providedwith elastic portions 33 thus to give free move ment to the wearer; at the same time keeping taut the lower edge 41 of the garment.

The brassiere fronts b, b are 'secured to the garment at the under-arm scams 9, and in conjunction with the back 4 serve the purpose of the complete and separate brassiere so often worn as a separate garment over a corset. I thus secure the advantage 'of but one back for both brassiere and .corset' body. I The brassiere sections are corset sections far enough to retain the bush 1 in good form and to conform to the height fastened,together. It is thus seen by referlio tically the bottom of the garment, serving to cover the lacings of the corset body and present a smooth exterior and likewise to form a support for hose supporters 46. Said extensions 13 are widened at the top so as to extend a trifle beyond the seams 42, 43, thus to more completely hold the brassiere in smooth lines and form a better leverage for the hose supporters, bringing the strain mainly on the shoulders.

A novel feature of said hose supporters 46 is the attachment to the garment of the elastic tapes 15 on which an ordinary grip 17 is mounted; being secured at either end to the extensions 13 and to the lower edges of the flaps 16, respectively as shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6. The grip 17 being left free to slide on the tape 15, will automatically adjust itself to the movements of the wearer, in a similar manner are formed hose supporters 18 at the sides, the elastic tapes 18 being secured at their ends to the lower edge of the garment at the seams 9, 19, respectively. The grips 17 slide'toward the front ends ofthe, tapes 18 when the wearer 'is seated; thus avoiding extra. strain on the hose and at the sides. The closure for the brassiere is effected preferably by small hooks and eyes 35, 36 on the edges of the pieces, extending well down onto .the extensions 13.

The corset is'shaped below thebust as at 23, 24, 25, 26, and the brassiere coming over the shaped portion gives greater comfort and more freedom to the wearer than in previous constructions, and the extensions from the brassiere coming down and fastening to the stockings help to flatten the bust giving a straighter, flatter line in front and reducing the figure to av flatter effect. i

Heretofore with corsets that come up high it is found that when one sits down the corset teiids to push the bust up and in my new construction the brassiere coming over the shaped portibn'of the corset and being without stays in it, supports and confines the bust, but gives a more natural line and much more comfort. It is the brassiere that confines the bust and not the corset. I get my improved result in this respect from shaping the brassiere and not from staying it. It is the shape ,of the brassiere that gives the result in more comfortable and better bust lines.

With my improved corset I obtain greater comfort and more freedom to the wearer because the brassiere is attached to the corset body at the sides from the arm scye to the waist line, and overlaps the corset'from the waist line to the top thereof and thereby provides a suflicient overlapping so that when the wearer stands up the bottom of the brassiere will not slip over the top edge of the corset. The elastic straps connecting the upper portions of the brassiere section to the shoulder straps of the back sec-.

tion permits the shoulder straps to be stretched to accommodate the shoulders of the wearer when in standing position, and prevents looseness of the straps when the wearer is seated. By reason of the brassiere being attached to the back portion, which terminates below the level of the coccyx region it will be maintained in place when the wearer is in uprightor seated positions, and the straps connected to the brassiere fronts, which straps are connected to the stockings by means of stocking supporters, will also maintain the brassiere in correct position. The flaps attached to the skirt portion cover the cutaway portion of the corset and permit expansion of the corset at this point when the wearer is seated, and thereby affords greater comfort and more freedom to the wea'rerthan in previous constuctions. I

By attaching the brassieres to the under arm seam and extending the same from. the bust down to the waist line and there connecting the stocking supporters, pressure is applied to reduce the fleshy portions ,under the arm and also to reduce the bust,

and the corset is made more comfortable than in previous constructions. By my construction the corset stays do not go as high as the busts and are not likely to gouge the wearer; and greater comfort is thereby secured, and all'danger of injury to the breast.

of the wearer by pressure of the upper end of high corset bones or stays in corsets heretofore used is eliminated.

I claim:

1. A corset having a form-fitting, one

piece closed back and extending from the length that the body will rest upon the lower ends thereof when the wearer of the corset is seated.

3. A corset body having a form-fitting closed back and a front opening; the sides and back'of said corset body extending slightly below the swell of the hips and from the garment above the region of the pelvic organs' 7 4. A corset body having a closed back,

and a front opening; the sides and back of said corset bod extending slightly below '15 the swell of the ips and drawing in with the back poise stays, set forth at the lower edge of the back to conform to the contour of the wearer; the front lower portion of said corset being cut away at the crotch; flexible auxiliary flap sections secured to the front edges of the hip portions of said corset body and provided with elastic portions, and means for joining said flap sections to cover the cut away portion and the lower end of the front corset closure, and to hold the hip portions snugly about the wearer. 5? A corset having a closed back, and opening at the front; brassiere fronts attached to the underarm seams of the corset body; a lower front cut away portion;

flexible auxiliary flap sections attached to the sides of the cut away portion and adapted to be joined to cover said cut away portion; lower extensions of the brassiere fronts joined together to cover the front closure of the corset; and flexible means attached to the lower ends of said extensions; and to said auxiliary flaps respectively, for carrying hose supporting fasteners.

6. A corset having a closed back and adapted to open at the front, the back and sides of saidcorset extending slightly below the swell of the hips of the wearer and having the lower portion of the front cut away; the remaining portion of said front being provided with stiffening means adapted to support the abdomen of the wearer, flexible auxiliary flaps secured to the side edges of the cut away portion; elastic gussets inserted in the lower front edges of said flaps, said flaps adapted to be joined together to cover the lower end of the front closure of the corset and said cut away portion, and also to yieldingly hold the lower back and side portions of the corset snugly about the hips of the wearer.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 14th day of October, 1921.

AMBER MAY BENJAMIN.

Witness:

JAMES R. TOWNSEND. 

